Gary Gensler, former Chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) serves at MIT Sloan School of Management as a Professor of the Practice in both the Global Economics and Management Group and the Finance Group. His work focuses on artificial intelligence, finance, financial technology, and public policy. With experience in private industry, academia, and the public sector, Gensler has deep expertise in economic policy, financial markets, and regulatory frameworks. His insights into the complexities of markets, the use of artificial intelligence in finance, and corporate governance are invaluable to audiences in the financial, legal, tech and business sectors.

Gensler led oversight of the $120T U.S. capital markets as SEC Chair in the Biden Administration from 2021-2025. He also served as Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) under President Obama, where he spearheaded the post-2008 financial crisis reforms in the $400 trillion swaps market. Earlier in his career, he was a senior U.S. Treasury official in the Clinton Administration and played a key role in drafting the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (2002). Gensler has had long-term involvement in shaping the future of financial markets. His ability to address pressing, current topics makes him a relevant figure for discussions on both short- and long-term industry trends.

Before entering public service, Gensler spent 18 years at Goldman Sachs, becoming a partner and holding leadership roles in mergers and acquisitions, fixed income, and currency trading. He first joined MIT in 2018, earning the MIT Sloan Outstanding Teacher Award. He is also a recipient of the 2014 Tamar Frankel Fiduciary Prize and has co-authored a book on personal finance, The Great Mutual Fund Trap.

Dambisa Moyo is a member of the United Kingdom’s House of Lords sitting as Baroness Moyo of Knightsbridge . She is a principal of Versaca Investments - a family office focused on growth investing globally. She serves on a number of global corporate boards including Chevron, and the Oxford University Endowment Investment Committee. She is a member of The American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Moyo is respected for her unique perspectives, her balance of contrarian thinking with measured judgment, and her ability to turn economic insight into investible ideas. 

Dr. Moyo is the author of five bestselling books on the global macroeconomy and geopolitics. She holds a PhD in economics from Oxford University and a Masters degree from Harvard University. Dr. Moyo was named to the list of TIME’s "100 Most Influential People" in the world; writes for the Financial Times, WSJ, Barron's, and Harvard Business Review. Dr. Moyo is a pre-eminent thinker whose insights empower key decision-makers in strategic investment and public policy.

During his tenure as NASA’s longest-serving Administrator, The Honorable Dan S. Goldin transformed America’s aeronautics and space program. He is credited with the re-emergence of NASA after the Cold War. Despite lower budgets, his “faster, better, cheaper” approach enabled the Agency to deliver programs of high value to the American public without sacrificing safety. Prior to his tenure at NASA, Mr. Goldin served as a leading national security executive, producing systems of high national priority. As the founder of Cold Canyon, an innovation advisory company, and as a senior advisor to Cerberus Capital Management, his career spans space exploration and science, aeronautics, air traffic management, national security systems, semiconductors, advanced sensors, hypersonic, communications, and artificial intelligence. With his accumulated experience, Mr. Goldin is a highly sought-after leader in advancing American technologies and businesses. Mr. Goldin has recently spoken at SXSW, the Space Symposium, Purdue University, the International Aviation Women’s Association, and many more.

Mr. Goldin is a Member of the National Academy of Engineering, and the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy. He is a Fellow of the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics and the American Astronautical Society, and an Honorary Board Member of the Explorers Club.  Mr. Goldin has received the Goddard Memorial Trophy, the premier award from the National Space Club and Foundation, and the General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Space Foundation. Mr. Goldin holds 18 Honorary Doctorates from the world’s great universities. As a deep tech champion, Mr. Goldin brings firsthand expertise to the stage, empowering audiences to navigate and harness cutting-edge technologies for transformative business growth and innovation. 

MIT-trained engineer and tech entrepreneur Krisztina “Z” Holly, curator of the first ever TEDx event, has been at the forefront of innovation throughout her career. She started her career as a serial tech entrepreneur in Boston and Silicon Valley before spending over a decade building pioneering innovation centers at MIT and USC. The White House subsequently invited her to help spread her novel model across the United States. Today, she invests in early-stage complex science and technology startups as an operating partner at Good Growth Capital and is a sought-after advisor and speaker to organizations around the world. She has been recognized by Rolling Stone, Forbes, WIRED, and Entrepreneur Mag for her ability to scout and cultivate talent and catalyze global initiatives. With a proven track record of fostering innovation, Z’s insights come from real-world experience.

Z has spoken at Davos, the White House, YPO Entrepreneurial Energy, NBC Universal, and the National Academy of Sciences Innovation Summit; she has facilitated numerous sessions for the World Economic Forum with heads of state and CEOs of Fortune 100 companies. She regularly appears as a public expert and interviewer, leading conversations with tech “rockstars” such as Biz Stone and Tim O'Reilly, interviewing world-famous extreme athletes, and facilitating panels with university presidents and global leaders. Z’s authentic style and tailored messages resonate with a wide range of audiences, from students and aspiring entrepreneurs to academics and top executives. 

Columbia Business School professor Dr. Sheena Iyengar is a world expert on choice and decision-making. Her book The Art of Choosing received the Financial Times and Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year and inspired an eponymous TED Talk.  Her subsequent book, Think Bigger, was a Gold Medal Winner of the 2024 Axiom Business Book Award. Her research is regularly cited in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and The Economist as well as in popular books, such as Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink and Aziz Ansari’s Modern Romance. Dr. Iyengar has also appeared on television, including The Today Show, The Daily Show, and Fareed Zakaria’s GPS on CNN. Her TED Talks have collectively received 7M views and her research continues to inform markets, businesses, and individuals around the world.

Dr. Iyengar has been named a member of Thinkers50, a global ranking of the top 50 management thinkers. She won the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Core Teaching from Columbia Business School in 2012 and was named one of the World’s Best B-School Professors by Poets and Quants. She has also given keynotes and consulted for companies as wide-ranging as Deloitte, Google, Bloomberg, Blizzard Entertainment, J.P. Morgan & Chase, and The North Face.

The Leader Fortune 500s & World Governments Trust on Cyber, Risk, and the Future of Tech

When the stakes are high and the risks are global, leaders turn to General General Tim Haugh, USAF (Ret.). Haugh served as the 19th Director of the National Security Agency and the 4th Commander of U.S. Cyber Command. In 2025, Haugh completed an illustrious career leading at the highest levels of the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community delivering results at the nexus of national policy, emerging technology, and global change. 

Haugh is a respected, bipartisan leader praised by members of both parties for his transparency, collaboration, problem-solving, and technical expertise. Haugh has received numerous military and civilian awards, including recognition for protecting our elections from foreign cyber and information threats; countering foreign cyber attacks on our critical infrastructure; and integrating new technology into cyber defenses. 

An expert in risk management, technology, and leadership, Haugh offers organizations insights into the current and evolving global environment; implications based on AI and cybersecurity trends, and ultimately strategies for leaders in this rapidly changing policy and technology landscape.

De Kai is Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at HKUST and Distinguished Research Scholar at Berkeley’s International Computer Science Institute. De Kai invented and built the world’s first global-scale online language translator that spawned Google Translate, Yahoo Translate, and Microsoft Bing Translator.He is Independent Director of AI ethics think tank The Future Society, and was one of eight inaugural members of Google’s AI ethics council. For his pioneering contributions in AI, natural language processing, and machine learning, De Kai was honored by the Association for Computational Linguistics as one of only seventeen Founding Fellows and by Debrett’s as one of the 100 most influential figures of Hong Kong.

De Kai's new book, Raising AI, has taken the marketplace of ideas by storm. With a rare combination of visionary insight, deep technical expertise, and a compelling ability to communicate complex ideas to diverse audiences, De Kai is uniquely positioned to lead vital conversations on the future of AI and humanity. His groundbreaking work and global influence make him a catalyst for thought and action. Hiring De Kai means bringing bold ideas, ethical clarity, and transformative perspective to your stage.

Jake Sullivan most recently served as the 28th Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (National Security Advisor). He is now the inaugural Kissinger Professor of the Practice of Statecraft and World Order at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Sullivan helped lead U.S. national security through a period of historic geopolitical change and challenge and established enduring strategic advantages for the United States. In the Obama-Biden Administration, he served as National Security Advisor to then-Vice President Biden, Director of the Policy Planning Staff at the U.S. Department of State, and Deputy Chief of Staff to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. With a career spanning high-stakes diplomacy, national security decision-making, and technology and economic policy, Sullivan offers unparalleled insights into the forces driving the global landscape today. He is one of the most influential and well-respected voices on U.S. foreign policy and world affairs.

His unique insights include: 

• The direction of consequential and complex relationships with global powers like China, India, and Saudi Arabia.  Sullivan managed these relationships as National Security Advisor.
• Trends in a fast-moving landscape of technology, artificial intelligence, and national security. Sullivan pioneered groundbreaking policy at this intersection.
• The future of trade, investment, and industrial policy, which he first outlined in a landmark speech at the Brookings Institution that shaped the global debate.
• Complex multi-stakeholder negotiations, as a leading player in the secret negotiations that led to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
• Lessons learned from crisis management in the White House Situation Room during crisis and conflict from Ukraine to the Middle East.
• Qualities needed to build and lead successful cross-disciplinary teams.

Known for his clarity, pragmatism, authenticity, and deep understanding of global trends, Sullivan engages audiences with thought-provoking analyses and actionable ideas for shaping a more stable and prosperous world. 

With a pragmatic approach to governance and a reputation for fostering bipartisan dialogue that leads to bipartisan results, U.S. Congressman Patrick McHenry (R-NC) has been instrumental in shaping policies that drive innovation and economic growth. McHenry gained national prominence as Acting Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives during a critical period of legislative transition in 2023.

McHenry served as Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee’s Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, providing oversight of the Federal Reserve, Treasury Department, Securities and Exchange Commission and other federal financial regulators. He was also previously a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. As a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee, McHenry has focused on modernizing financial regulations to keep pace with technological advancements. He introduced the landmark "FIT (Financial Innovation and Technology) for the 21st Century Act" and "Clarity for Payment Stablecoins Act" to create a balanced regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. McHenry’s leadership in this space reflects his dedication to ensuring the United States remains at the forefront of global financial innovation while safeguarding investors and maintaining market stability.

Congressman McHenry is a seasoned legislator and a leading voice in U.S. economic and financial policy, with expertise spanning key areas such as banking, financial regulation, and Crypto-currency, bitcoin, and other technologies, making him a sought-after voice on the future of economic policy. With years of experience navigating complex economic and legislative challenges, McHenry offers strategic advice on leading during a crisis, connecting business and finance with Washington policymakers, and addressing fiscal policy issues.

Steven Bartlett is a cultural force inspiring entrepreneurs to think big, act boldly, and innovate fearlessly. Whether on stage, on screen, or through his hit podcast The Diary of a CEO, Bartlett’s insights and energy make him a must-see figure for anyone passionate about the future of business and leadership.

As the youngest-ever “Dragon” on BBC’s Dragons’ Den (since 2021), Bartlett brings a bold, modern perspective to this iconic show, which inspired the American hit Shark Tank. His ability to connect with emerging business leaders and younger audiences has redefined the role of a Dragons’ Den investor, making him a standout figure in the UK business community.

Bartlett is also the host of Europe’s leading podcast, The Diary of a CEO, where he engages in candid conversations on entrepreneurship, mental health, and personal growth with some of the world’s most influential figures. His raw, insightful storytelling resonates with millions, making the podcast essential listening for aspiring and established entrepreneurs alike.

His influence extends into the health and wellness sector with investments in groundbreaking companies like Huel, the UK’s fastest-growing e-commerce brand, and Zoe, a personalized nutrition program created by top scientists. His diverse portfolio also includes ventures in biotech, blockchain, space exploration, and Web3 technologies, demonstrating his visionary approach to innovation.

As the co-founder of Flight Group, a media, marketing, and investment powerhouse, Bartlett drives growth across industries through companies like Flight Fund, Flight Ventures, and Flight Story. His entrepreneurial journey began with Social Chain, a digital marketing agency that revolutionized how global brands like Apple and Coca-Cola engage with audiences.

Born in Botswana to a Nigerian mother and an English father, Bartlett’s rise from humble beginnings to becoming a multimillionaire entrepreneur is a story of grit, innovation, and authenticity. He embodies the next generation of leadership, empowering others to embrace challenges, disrupt industries, and build meaningful impact.

Jack Lew is a distinguished attorney, diplomat, and policymaker with a remarkable career spanning both public service and the private sector. As the 76th Secretary of the Treasury (2013–2017) and United States Ambassador to Israel, Lew played a pivotal role in shaping global economic policy and U.S. foreign relations. He also served as White House Chief of Staff (2012–2013) and Director of the Office of Management and Budget under both the Clinton and Obama administrations.

Lew’s extensive experience extends beyond government service. Prior to 2010, Lew served as managing director and chief operating officer for two different Citigroup business units. Lew was tapped by Citigroup for his work as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of New York​ University, where he was responsible for budget, finance, and operations, and served as a professor of public administration. From 2004 through 2008, Lew served on the Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service and chaired its Management, Administration, and Governance Committee. As Special Assistant to President Clinton from 1993 to 1994, Mr. Lew helped design Americorps, the national service program.

Lew began his career in Washington in 1973 as a legislative aide. From 1979 to 1987, he was a principal domestic policy advisor to House Speaker Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr, when he served the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee as Assistant Director and then Executive Director. He was the Speaker's liaison to the Greenspan Commission, which negotiated a bipartisan solution to extend the solvency of Social Security in 1983, and he was responsible for domestic and economic issues, including Medicare, budget, tax, trade, appropriations, and energy issues. With deep expertise in public finance, policy, and international relations, Lew offers invaluable insights into leadership, economic strategy, and governance, making him an ideal speaker for audiences seeking perspectives on global economics and public service.

Rostin "Russ" Behnam served as the 15th Chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission from 2021 to January 2025. Behnam was nominated by President Biden and unanimously confirmed by the Senate in December 2021. Before serving as Chairman, Behnam served as a CFTC Commissioner from 2017-2021, having been nominated by President Trump in July 2017 and unanimously confirmed by the Senate the following month.

Since leaving the CFTC in February 2025, Behnam continues to be a sought after voice among global financial market experts both in the United States and globally. As CFTC Chairman, during a time of significant technological transformation and disruption in financial markets, Behnam focused on implementing rules and dedicating agency resources to enhancing risk management and resilience, strengthening customer protections, improving data policy, and promoting international comity. 

While Chairman, Behnam was at the center of the crypto policy debate in the U.S., directly influencing multiple legislative efforts to authorize the regulation of digital assets, and also overseeing the expansion of CFTC licensed crypto exchanges, intermediaries, and new financial derivatives products directly within the agency’s authority. 

Behnam is also globally recognized for his work on climate finance and examining the relationship between climate change and financial market risk. Behnam led the publication of the Managing Climate Risk in the U.S. Financial System report in September 2020, and subsequently led the passage of the CFTC’s Guidance in the voluntary carbon markets, in September 2024. 

Behnam now serves as a Distinguished Fellow at the Psaros Center for Financial Markets and Policy at Georgetown University. In his new role, he is expected to leverage his extensive experience in financial regulation to contribute to academic discussions and policy development related to financial markets.

Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall has tackled the world’s most pressing global and domestic challenges for four decades. Leading in top public roles, including as White House Homeland Security Advisor and Deputy National Security Advisor (2021-2025), Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of Energy (2014-2017), White House Coordinator for Defense Policy, Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction, and Arms Control (2013-2014), Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for European Affairs (2009-2013), and at the Pentagon as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia (1994-1996), Sherwood-Randall has worked on the most complex and consequential global challenges, participating in the highest levels of international and domestic decision-making. Sherwood-Randall’s expertise spans a broad range of topics that are highly relevant today, including leading through crises, securing critical infrastructure, driving energy innovation, and conducting international diplomacy with both allies and adversaries.

Offering unique insights and unparalleled expertise across a spectrum of issues, from homeland security to national security, Sherwood-Randall presents the threats and opportunities that lie ahead through a compelling insider’s lens. Her work in both the top levels of the American government and with private sector partners highlights her ability to bring innovative solutions to complex challenges. She offers insights on reducing threats, navigating uncertainty, managing emergencies, and making tough decisions under pressure in the media spotlight. With first-hand experience as a defense and energy policy leader, global crisis manager, and proven female executive, Sherwood-Randall has inspired numerous teams to achieve ambitious goals, facing dynamic times with courage, steadiness, and grace under pressure.

Conor Grennan is Chief AI Architect at NYU Stern School of Business, where he builds generative AI fluency across the institution, including MBAs, faculty, and administration. Prior to that role, he served as Dean of Students for the past 10 years. Outside of NYU, Grennan is the CEO and Founder of AI Mindset, an AI consulting company that trains professionals, leaders, and organizations on a new and effective framework for generative AI. Grennan is also the Head GenAI Trainer for the Chief Executive Group and LinkedIn Learning’s instructor for AI for Business. He has keynoted on generative AI at the Generative AI World Conference, Generative AI Week, PWC’s Trust Leadership Academy, MetTel’s Innovation Conference, Correlation One’s CHRO Insights event, the Franchise CEO Summit, the Chief Executive Annual Summit, and many other large-scale events.

Grennan is also a New York Times #1 bestselling author, TEDx speaker, and executive coach.  His AI insights have been featured in Entrepreneur, Business Insider, Vox, and other media outlets. He co-hosts the AI Applied podcast (top 20 in Business News) and is a Top Voice in Public Speaking on LinkedIn, where he has over 65k followers that track his generative AI insights. Grennan is singularly primed to bring audiences insights on AI usage and applications.

Harvard University professor of philosophy Michael Sandel has been described as a “philosopher with the global profile of a rock star,” known across the globe for his lively Socratic debates that aim to restore the lost art of respectful discussion. Sandel is the bestselling author of books on justice, ethics, democracy, and markets that have been translated into over 30 languages. Sandel has been a visiting professor at the Sorbonne, delivered the Tanner Lectures on Human Values at Oxford, served on the U.S. President’s Council on Bioethics, and is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. A graduate of Brandeis University, he received his doctorate from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar.

Sandel’s books—on justice, democracy, ethics, technology, and markets—have been translated into more than 30 languages. They include Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do?; What Money Can’t Buy, and The Tyranny of Merit: Can We Find the Common Good?, which seeks a way beyond our polarized politics. A new edition of his classic book Democracy’s Discontent has been described as “essential--and ultimately hopeful--reading for all those who wonder if our democratic experiment will survive in the twenty-first century.”

Sandel’s legendary course “Justice,” one of the most popular in Harvard’s history, is freely available online and has been viewed by tens of millions. His BBC series The Global Philosopher engages participants from around the world in discussing the ethical issues lying behind the headlines. In this and other television, radio, and online programs, Sandel explores tech ethics, robots and AI, markets and morals, climate change, free speech, and other topical issues.

Sandel’s renowned interactive public lectures on the big civic questions of the day show how reasoned debate, leavened with humor and mutual respect, can produce dialogue across our differences.

A “master of life’s big questions” (Guardian), Sandel’s live events have packed St. Paul’s Cathedral (London), the Sydney Opera House (Australia), the Delacorte Theater in New York’s Central Park, and an outdoor stadium in Seoul (S. Korea), where 14,000 came to hear him speak. 

Amos Hochstein is a leading national security leader, energy and infrastructure expert, and experienced negotiator. He is also a frequent and highly sought-after public speaker who regularly appears on leading media outlets from CNBC and Bloomberg to CNN and Fox, and is featured in leading publications around the world.

Hochstein was the lead negotiator in securing the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon, ending the post October 7th war between Israel and Hezbollah. Previously, he negotiated several global economic and diplomatic agreements including the Israel-Lebanon maritime border agreement, a landmark diplomatic and first of its kind political and economic agreement that resolved a decades-long dispute that also enabled significant investment opportunities in the Eastern Mediterranean.

In his years at the White House, Hochstein regularly met with the leaders of countries around the world from the Arabian Gulf to Asia and Africa on behalf of the President of the U.S.

Dubbed by the Washington Post as the “energy whisperer” or the “energy czar” by others, Hochstein is well known to the global energy, mining and infrastructure sectors.  He has held leadership positions in both the private sector and government, shaping the future of energy policy.

In his expansive leadership role, Hochstein played a leading role shaping and negotiating the US global policy on artificial intelligence (AI) and AI infrastructure. Chairing the AI investment taskforce with Saudi Arabia and other countries while accelerating investment in data centers in the U.S. and around the world.